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Week 12 Bowl Projections: Media Leaning Toward Hokies-Pokes

Selection Sunday is less than two weeks away, and as they have all season, members of the media are predicting which ACC and Big 12 teams might be headed to Orlando for the Camping World Bowl on Dec. 28. Here’s a round-up of the latest projections from around the college football landscape following Week 12:

Kyle Bonagura (ESPN): NC State vs. Oklahoma State
David M. Hale (ESPN): Virginia Tech vs. Iowa State
Eric Single (Sports Illustrated): NC State vs. West Virginia
Jerry Palm (CBS Sports): Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
Bill Bender (Sporting News): Florida State vs. Oklahoma State
Jason Kirk (SB Nation): Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
Brant Parsons (Orlando Sentinel): Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
CollegeFootballNews.com: NC State vs. West Virginia
Brett McMurphy: Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State

NC State vs. Oklahoma State

  • These programs have not met on the gridiron.
  • The Cowboys average 567.9 yards per game through Week 12, second in FBS, including 383.1 passing yards, which ranks first nationally; NC State, meanwhile, allows 242.0 passing yards per contest, which is tied for 91st nationally.
  • Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph leads all of FBS in passing yards (4,115) and passing yards per game (374.1), while wideout James Washington ranks second nationally in receiving yards and receiving yards per game (1,317 and 119.7, respectively) and has hauled in 11 touchdown passes, which ranks second in the Big 12 and fifth nationally.

Virginia Tech vs. Iowa State

  • This would be the first meeting between programs.
  • In this matchup, Iowa State would likely need to rely on its passing offense, ranked 32nd nationally (270.0 yards per game), as Virginia Tech’s No. 24 rushing defense is allowing just 128.4 yards per game on the ground. (Iowa State currently averages 120.3 yards per game on the ground, 111th out of 129 teams.)
  • The Cyclones’ total defense (377.9 yards per game) against the Hokies’ total offense (409.5) would be an even matchup, as they are ranked 54th and 57th among FBS teams.
The 1975 Peach Bowl game program.

NC State vs. West Virginia

  • This would be a rematch of our 2010 game, which saw a Russell Wilson-led NC State top West Virginia, 23-7.
  • The all-time series tied 5-5; NC State has won past three meetings.
  • The Mountaineers’ last victory in the series came in 1975 Peach Bowl.
  • West Virginia has made four appearances in the Camping World Bowl game, trailing only NC State and Miami.
  • The Mountaineers offense is averaging 494.0 yards of total offense per game, ranked No. 13 in the nation, while NC State’s defense has been allowing 378.7 total yards per game.

Florida State vs. Oklahoma State

  • Florida State has won four of five previous meetings between the school.
  • Oklahoma State’s only win over the Seminoles was in the 1958 Bluegrass Bowl.
  • Their most recent matchup was in 2014, when the Cowboys opened their season against Jameis Winston and the reigning national champs at AT&T Stadium in Dallas; Florida State won, 37-31.
  • Quarterback Mason Rudolph leads the most effective passing offense in the nation, which averages 383.1 yards per game.
  • Florida State’s pass D is ranked No. 31 nationally in yards allowed (196.6 yards per game).

Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State

  • The teams have split their head-to-head series all-time, 1-1, with the most recent meeting coming in 1972.
  • Virginia Tech’s only appearance in the Camping World Bowl was its OT victory in 2012 — the only overtime game in the bowl’s history.
  • This would be Oklahoma State’s first appearance in the Camping World Bowl and fourth appearance in a Florida bowl game, including the 1976 Citrus Bowl — known then as the Tangerine Bowl. The Cowboys beat BYU 49-21 in that game.
  • The Hokies vs. the Cowboys would be a matchup of strengths: Virginia Tech ranks sixth nationally allowing just 14.7 points per game, while Oklahoma State trails only UCF in scoring offense, averaging 45.2 points per game.